Named after a section of the book White Noise, by Don DeLillo– LA’s Airborne Toxic Event brought their trademark sound of combining rock music with orchestral arrangements for a packed house at Philadelphia’s Electric Factory. Airborne Toxic Event are currently touring in support of their sophomore studio album, All at Once, which hit streets via Island Records last April and was produced in Los Angeles by Dave Sardy (Oasis, Band of Horses, LCD Soundsystem, Wolfmother, and Autolux). Over the past year, the band has seen their success skyrocket with major network coverage in Europe and the US and a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This tour marks the follow-up to their highly covered “Origins Tour” where the band played five back-to-back shows in London, New York, and Los Angeles. Starting each stint with the smallest venues in each city, these 15 dates included a range of varying sized venues that the group has frequented since its formation in 2006. Sunday night’s performance found the band as confident as ever with a predominantly younger crowd swooning over the band’s every move.
Nashville indie rockers Mona took to the stage next, still riding the wave of their global success following an appearance on BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll. Mona is currently touring in support of their self-titled debut album, which was self-produced by the band in their basement in Nashville and mixed by producer Rich Costey (Foo Fighters, Muse, Arctic Monkeys) and released via Zion Noiz Recordings/Island Records in May. Mona recently took home a moon-man award for MTV’s honorary Brand New for 2011.
The story of the tour definitely goes to Oceanside, CA’s The Drowning Men, who less than 48 hours before Sunday night’s performance while driving from Terminal 5 in New York City to their next show in Boston, were hit by a drunk driver, totaling both their van and trailer. The band issued the following statement;
We were hit by a drunk driver Friday night, on I-95 in CT. The van and trailer have been totaled. We are all ok. Thanks for thinking of us – we’re under a watchful eye. If it weren’t for The Airborne Toxic Event we would be posting a different message.. Our friends picked us up, loaded their trailer with our gear, and then let us drink ALL of their beer. Don’t drink and drive. Celebrate friendship!
The Drowning Men looked unshaken as fans and friends celebrated whole-heatedly as the crowd continually grew to support all of the acts with a strong Philly welcome. The Drowning Men are just coming off of two successful tours with Flogging Molly and Alkaline Trio‘s 15th anniversary tour as they continue to support their 2009 full-length Beheading of the Songbird, which has been compared to the timeless conceptual feel of such contemporaries as Arcade Fire, The Decemberists and My Morning Jacket.
We know you are here for the pictures, so without further ado..
Words by Joshua T. Cohen
All Pictures by Dante Torrieri of Useless Rebel Imaging.
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